NEURAL CYST OF THE OVARY WITH CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM MICROVASCULATURE

A case of a monodermal teratoma of the ovary composed sorely of mature neurogliar elements is described. The cyst lining comprised ependymal cells surrounded by white matter which itself was resting on mesothel ial cells. Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia and neurofilament-p ositive fibres were seen, but no neuron cell bodies were present. Immu nohistochemical stains showed positivity for glial fibrillary acidic p rotein in ependymal, subependymal and the white matter regions while S -100 protein positivity was restricted to the white matter. Vessels wi thin neuroectodermal tissue, but not those within the mesodermal tissu e, stained positively for anti-glucose transporter protein, a marker s hown to be present in vessels with barrier functions. We conclude that this is a rare case of monodermal teratoma consisting of purely matur e brain tissue with a microvasculature exhibiting blood-brain barrier characteristics.